The Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (PERHILITAN) is facing criticism for using puppies as bait to capture panthers in a neighbourhood in Negeri Sembilan. The controversy began after a complaint was filed regarding wild panthers that had preyed on a villager's dog. Subsequently, the Wildlife Rescue service successfully captured three panthers.
However, what has stirred public outrage is the use of live puppies as bait to lure these panthers into captivity, leading many Malaysians to express their displeasure and criticize the team for endangering innocent small canines in the process.
In an attempt to clarify the situation, PERHILITAN Director General Abdul Kadir Abu Hassan asserted earlier today that no harm came to the puppies during the capture process. He explained that the team typically employs a goat as bait, but this method failed to entice the large animals. Since the panthers were known to prey on dogs, the decision was made to use puppies with a similar scent to lure them.
The choice of puppies over adult dogs was due to the limitations of the trap, which could not accommodate a fully grown dog. It's important to note that the puppies were released as soon as the wild animals were captured. When asked about the possibility of using raw meat instead, Abdul Kadir mentioned that the practice of using live bait is more common for attracting these carnivores.
What are your thoughts on the use of puppies as bait in this situation?